Funnel.



C. 0. BYRD.

FUNNEL.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.19, 1910.

1,000, 150, Patented Aug. 8, 1911.

'r FFM.

CLETUS O. BYRD, OF GASSAWAY, WEST VIRGINIA.

rUivNiiL.

To all whom t may concern? Be it known that I, CLnTUs O. BYRD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Gassaway, in the county of Braxton, State of vest Virginia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Funiiels; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable otheis skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the saine.

rl"liis invention relates to improvements in funiiels of the class wherein 'provision is made for shutting off the flow at any required time, and retaining the liquid which remains in the funnel, and has for one of its objects to improve the construction and increase the etiicieiicy and utility of devices of this character.

lilith this and other objects in view, the invention consists in certain novel features of construction as hereinafter shown and cescribed and then specifically pointed out in the claim; and, in the drawings illustrative of the preferred embodiment of the invention, Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of the improved device, Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional detail illustrating the construction of the coupling between the operating shaft and the tubular valve stem, Fig. 3 is a plan view of portions of the parts shown in Fig. 2, Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the parts shown in Fig. 2 together with a portion of the body of the funnel and the operating end of the shaft, Fig. 5 is an enlarged perspective view of the coupling plate, Fig. 6 is a sectional detail illustrating the means whereby the improved device is applied to receiving vessels having various sizes of necks.

The improved device comprises a body 10 in funnel form and having a contracted discharge 11, the discharge being threaded externally as shown at l2 and formed with an annular outwardly directed shoulder 13. Engaging over the threaded portion 12 of the discharge is a nozzle member 14, the latter having an internal valve scat 15 at the lower end and bearing atits upper end against the shoulder 18. The outer face of the nozzle 14 is reduced to receive and support a tapering packing sleeve 16 of rubber or like material, to form an air-tight juncture with the neck portion of a bottle, jug, or other receptacle, a conventional neck portion being indicated at 17.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed August 19, 1910.

Patented Ang. 8, 1911.

Serial No. 578,057.

Fitting in the lower end of the nozzle einber 14 and bearing upon the seat 15 is a relatively long conical valve 18 of rubber or 'other suitable material, and through which a tubular stem or valve rod 19 extends vertically, as shown. The upper end of the body 10 is provided with a cover 20 which extends over about one-half of the body and is provided with a pouring spout 21 at the outer side and with a recess 22 at the inner side. Mounted for rotation over the .upper end of the funnel is a shaft 23 having a crank 24 at the center thereof and extending over the recess 22 of the halfcover 20. The shaft 23 is provided upon its outer end with an operating loop 25, to enable. the shaft to be readily oscillated.

Fitting around the crank 24 is a plate 26, the two parts of the plate being arranged face to face at one side of the crank with the stem 19 extending through the superimposed parts, and coupled thereto by binding nuts 27-28 operating above and below the plate. By this means the rod 19 is detachably coupled to the crank, and may be readily detached therefroin by simply removing the clamp nut 27, as will be obvious. By this simple means the rod and the valve 18 may be readily detached from the funnel when required. It willbe noted that the crank 24 and the coupling between the rod 19 are so arranged that when the crank is in its upward position it extends at an angle away from the rod 19, so that the latter is locked in its upward position and thus holds the valve 1S locked to the seat 15. When the device is to be employed the shaft 23 is rotated to draw the crank 2O into substant-ially horizontal position and thus release the rod 19 and open the valve 18. The funnel device is then inserted by its nozzle in the neck portion of the receptacle and pressed therein with sutticient force to en gage the material of the vessel neck and thus forni an air-tight joint between the parts, but with a vent through the tubular stem 19. The liquid is then poured into the funnel and when a sufficient quantity has passed into the receptacle the shaft 23 is rotated to move the crank 24 into the position shown in Fig. 1, which movement closes the valve 1S`and locks it in its seat and thus cuts off any further flow of the material which is thus retained in the body 10. The body 1() is then removed and the contents of the funnel poured through the spout- 21 if preferred, or it may be poured out of the larger opening between the half-cover 2O and the opposite side of the body.

The improved device is simple in construction, can be inexpensively manufactured, and of any suitable material and employed for liquids of any required kind.

Fig. 6 represents one of the members 11 shown arranged for application to a larger receiving vessel, and with a larger valve 18 to correspond therewith. It will be noted that by providing a plurality of the members 111 of different sizes and with valves 18 to correspond therewith, the improved device may be readily attached Without inaterial structural changes to receiving vessels having various sizes of mouths or intake apertures. The valve 18, it -will be noted, is secured by a nut 29 to the tubular stem 19, so that the valve may be removed when required or to enable a larger or smaller valve to be applied at the same time that the conical member 14k is changed. By this means the utility and eiliciency and scope of the improved device are materially increased without structural change. A finger grip or handle 29 is attached to the body 10 at a pointopposite to the pouring spout 21, as shown 1n Fig. 1.

Vhat is claimed is In a funnel, a body having a discharge nozzle provided with a valve seat, a valve engaging said seat, a tubular stem extending through said valve, a shaft mounted for rotation upon said body and having a crank, a plate bent centrally and engaging around said crank with its sides superimposed with said stem extending through said sides, and clamp nuts engaging upon said stem and bearing upon the opposite faces of said plate.

In testimony whereof, I afiix my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

CLETUS O. BYRD.

Vitnesses J. M. STEWART, C. R. SoRrvnNs.

Copies o1 this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

